MXPA00012466A - Method for driving a satellite receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

A television receiver, such as a video recorder, for example, is known to contain an infrared transmitting diode which enables a satellite receiver to be driven. In this case, it is disadvantageous that the user has to programme his video recorder, that is to say that programme location in the satellite receiver at which the respective programme is received has to be supplemented manually. Corresponding programme information, such as show view data, can only be added manually. The invention is based on the object of providing a simple method for driving a satellite receiver. The invention's method for driving a satellite receiver by means of a television receiver connected to the satellite receiver, is distinguished by the fact that the television receiver drives the satellite receiver in such a way that a programme search is carried out and the programme information of the respective programme which is received by the satellite receiver is assigned to the corresponding programme location in the television receiver, and that the data are stored in a memory of the television receiver.

Description

METHOD TO ACTIVATE A SATELLITE RECEIVER Description of the invention The invention is based on a method for activating or activating a satellite receiver. A television receiver, such as a video recorder, for example is known to contain an infrared transmitting diode that makes it possible for a satellite receiver to be operated. In this case, it is advantageous that the user has to manually supplement the program-specific data in his VCR, for example, the location of the program in the satellite receiver in which the respective program is received. The corresponding program information, as shown by the view data, can only be added manually. Such product is known from Nord ende company, under the name "SPECTRA V4445 SV". It is also known for a video recorder to carry out an automatic program search and store the program-specific information, for example the transmitter name, the presentation view code or the like. At the present date, however, it is disadvantageous that such a search can not be carried out in conjunction with an external satellite receiver. The invention is based in order to provide a simple method for operating a satellite receiver. This object is achieved by means of the features of the invention which are specified in Claim 1. Advantageous developments are specified in the subclaims. The method of the invention for driving a satellite receiver by means of a television receiver connected to the satellite receiver is distinguished by the fact that the television receiver operates the satellite receiver in such a way that it is carried out. a program search and program information of the respective program that is received by the satellite receiver is assigned to the corresponding program site 20 on the television receiver, and because the data is stored in a memory of the television receiver. It should be understood that television receivers mean devices that make possible the reception by television, even if the signal is 'Shown until later in an image screen unit, for example, of a kinescope tube. In other words, a video recorder, a satellite decoder and also a normal television receiver with a kinescope, plasma or LCD tube screen, are to be understood as television receivers. This system has the advantage that the user provides the VCR with data from the satellite receiver in a simple way. The program search then makes it possible for the user to perform the programming in a simple manner, for example, by means of a presentation view. Without this solution according to the invention, the data would have to be replaced manually or the programming could not be performed. If the solution according to the invention is used in a television with kinescope tube, this has the advantage that the user can better use for example the teletext system of the television receiver. In addition, the method is distinguished by the fact that the program information is assigned to the information already present in the memory of the television receiver.

In a television receiver, it is often the case that the program information is already stored in a memory, for example, in order to perform the automatic search. It is now possible to assign the information obtained to this information. By way of example, if the satellite receiver contains ZDF with the display view code 002 in program 2, the information is assigned to the information in the memory. If the fact that ZDF has the presentation view code 002 is already present in the memory, all that is added is the information that the second memory site is used in the satellite receiver and that the user can use the same memory site in the television receiver. If the intention is to preserve the program order of the television receiver, then there is stored in the memory the information that ZDF is in the site of the program 2 of the satellite receiver and if the satellite receiver wants to keep its program site for ZDF, for example, the program site 10, the satellite receiver it is automatically changed according to the desired program in the case of programming or in the case of a permutation. This means that all devices could have the same order of program site. It is also possible that the stored information and the identifier of the transmitter ensure that a permutation is made to the correct respective channel. The data that is already present can be stored in a television receiver since the television receivers have been partially preprogrammed for cable and / or terrestrial reception. However, if a user uses a satellite receiver, he is generally not equipped with cable reception. Terrestrial reception is completely possible, however. If the program search is then initiated, the television receiver is advantageously assigned to the same program site as that of the satellite receiver, in order to ensure the uniform site assignment. The data that was possibly stored in the memory such as, for example, the presentation view code or the name of the transmitter, are also assigned to the program information in this case. In the case of reception with a satellite receiver, the signal from the satellite receiver is normally assigned via the scart cable to the AV socket of the television receiver or fed via the RF cable, also called coaxial cable, to the tuner, and assigned to a specific channel. The television receiver is now advantageously equipped in such a way that it makes assignments between the program site and the AV channel or the tuner. This means that when the user presses the key for site 2 of the program on the remote control of the television receiver, the television receiver, since it has stored the order information of the program sites as a result of the program search , automatically switches the satellite receiver to program site 2, the signal however, is communicated to it via the AV or the fixed tuner channel. In other words, the order of sites or program locations that the user has accepted from the satellite receiver is assigned to the respective keys, the signal, however, reaches the television receiver continuously via the AV socket or the permanently assigned channel . In the normal case, the sites or program locations are assigned with different channels, but in this case always the same channel or the same AV socket and the permutation are carried out by means of the infrared drive of the television receiver. This drive could also be effected via a line if the two devices, in addition to the data transmission in one direction, also have a line for data transmission in the other direction. It will be conceivable for the signals that are going to be modulated on the RF or scart cable, which also make it possible to carry out the transmission of data in this way. In another solution, a special control line is used for the exchange of data. The use of infrared signals is a universal solution in which the television has an infrared transmitting diode that controls the search of the satellite receiver in this way. For this purpose, the plurality of infrared codes of the satellite receivers must be stored in the television receiver, or it should be possible to add additional codes for the new types of satellite receivers, whose code is not yet stored in the receiver. TV. The codes could be added by means of acoustic coupling - by way of example, a service number is called, which then transfers the data to an interconnection in the television receiver by telephone. For this purpose, the interconnection must be equipped with a microphone, which can also be formed by the loudspeaker in the television receiver, picks up the acoustic signals and then converts them into code information for the television receiver with the help of the control unit. It is also possible that this service information is transmitted via a special channel in order to update the television receiver with current codes. The method is also distinguished by the fact that program information, such as teletext information, is updated. In the current television receivers that visually display the teletext information, it happens that the teletext pages are not updated in the case of a program change. This is due to the fact that, as a rule, the satellite receiver is connected to the television receiver by a cable, as described above, and transmits the respective program to the television receiver via the cable. The television receiver, as a rule, does not notice if a program change has taken place in the satellite receiver. This is only noted if the transmitter information is concomitantly read as well, as a result, the method according to the invention makes it possible, in the case of detection of a transmitter change, to erase or update the pages stored in the teletext memory . In addition, the method is distinguished by the fact that the program information, such as the data of the presentation view and / or the name of the transmitter, are stored in the memory. The user now has the advantage that he does not have to add information such as the presentation view data or transmitter names manually, rather they are stored automatically. The method is also distinguished by the fact that the memory is formed from a plurality of memories or memory levels. In the case of memory, it is possible that it is divided into a plurality of levels or a plurality of memories is used, in order to make possible the best exchange of data or to configure the system such that it can be integrated. A circuit for driving a satellite receiver with a control unit, a data channel, a television receiver control unit and a memory is distinguished by the fact that the control unit of the television receiver drives the television receiver. control unit of the satellite receiver via the data channel and performs a program search, with the result that the program information of the respective program is stored in the memory of the television receiver for the corresponding respective program of the receiver of the receiver. TV. In addition, the circuit is distinguished by the fact that the data channel is formed without a cable or cable. The invention is explained below with reference to the drawings. Identical reference symbols indicate identical operation. In the figures: Figure 1 shows a block diagram according to the invention with a video recorder as the television receiver, Figure 2 shows a block diagram according to the invention with a television, and Figures 3-6 show an arrangement of the equipment and the various visual representations of the menu. Figure 1 shows a block diagram according to the invention, with a SAT satellite receiver and a VCR video recorder as the television receiver. The input signal from the satellite IN passes to the control unit SE2 of the satellite receiver SAT and from there to the integrated circuit IC2. The integrated circuit is connected to the transmission means, such as a radio frequency HF cable, a SC scart cable or an optical control transmission unit, represented by a dashed line in this case. The integrated circuit IC2 may comprise a plurality of circuits, not illustrated here, or constructed in such a way that the corresponding information is appropriately conditioned for the form of transmission. At the remote end the VCR has an IC1 circuit, similarly configured, which is connected to a control unit SEl. The control unit SEl is connected to the SPI memory. The SPI memory can be formed of a plurality of memories or be subdivided into a plurality of memory levels, not illustrated here. The control unit SEl is operated by the remote control RC via the receiver diode EDI. The control unit SEl exchanges the information with other devices connected via the integrated circuit IC1 or via the transmission diode SD1. The control information of the transmission diode SD1 passes to the receiver diode ED2 of the satellite receiver SAT and from there to the control unit SE2. The control information could also be passed to the SAT satellite receiver via a data line or a collective bus system, indicated by line I in this case. By way of example, if a program search is carried out by the method according to the invention, it is activated by means of the remote control or by means of a key on the VCR not illustrated here. The control unit SEl then communicates, via the transmission diode SEl, the control information that the satellite receiver should switch to its first program site. The information of the permutation is sent to the control unit SE2 via the receiver diode ED2, which is present in any case in the satellite receiver. Satellite receivers, as a rule, are programmed at the time of manufacture. If this is not the case, then a search is automatically initiated on the satellite receiver, since the control unit SE2 notes that no information is received at the first program site and thus a search begins.

If it is assumed, in the normal case, that ARD is received in the first program site in the satellite receiver, the program information is transferred from the integrated circuit IC2 via the aforementioned HF, SC, IR connection types to the integrated circuit IC1, from which the control unit SEl of the VCR can evaluate the program information. The desired data in that case, such as for example the presentation view, the names of the programs or the like, are stored in the SPI memory. After this, the control unit SD1, via the transmission diode SD1, instructs the reception diode ED2 and the control unit SE2 to change to the second program site. As a rule, ZDF is then received and the storage proceeds in the manner already explained in the ARD example. In this way, a search is then carried out for all the programs received by the satellite receiver. The user can preferably follow the search on the television screen connected to the VCR and, if appropriate, abort it if audio programs are found or if encrypted television programs are received.

Figure 2 shows a block diagram according to the invention with a television. The method of operation is identical to the method of operation described in Figure 1. Since the television is also provided with a teletext page ST memory, it is now possible to store the additional teletext information. In other words, in the case of permutation or change from one program site to the next, the corresponding teletext information is renewed in the ST memory of the teletext page. The pages are always updated in this way. If the user then evokes the teletext page 333 on his television TV, this can be done effortlessly with the remote control of the television. In today's televisions, although it is possible to use the remote control of the television receiver to evoke the teletext page, the operation of the SAT satellite receiver is not possible. This could only be possible if the television had a universal remote control that operates the satellite receiver on the one hand, and television on the other hand, in which case the updating of the contents of the memory could not yet be provided with this.

Figure 3 shows a television TV connected to the VCR video recorder via SC scart cable. The VCR VCR is in turn connected to the SAT satellite receiver via SC scart cable. If the user presses the Install IL key on the VCR VCR or on the remote control of the VCR, not illustrated here, the menu appears, visually displayed on the TV TV screen. Depending on which key the user then presses, the corresponding task is performed. By way of example, if he presses the key 1, the satellite program run begins, ie the transmit diode SD1 of the VCR is communicated to the satellite receiver SAT, to the receiver diode EDI thereof, that the receiver must switch to your program site 1. The drive by means of an infrared signal from the VCR is possible in the case of models from the same manufacturer, by virtue of the fact that the VCR contains the infrared code necessary to operate the receiver of satellite. If this is not the case, a search is carried out, since the VCR contains the infrared codes for almost all satellite receivers. If the transmit diode SD1 sends the command to switch to the site of the first program for the SAT satellite receiver and the VCR does not receive a signal via the SC scart cable, the VCR will automatically perform the search internally, thereby find the corresponding infrared code for the reception diode ED2 of the SAT satellite receiver. Once this adjustment has been made, the effective search of the program can be started. Figure 4 shows, by way of example, that ARD has been found in site 1 of the program. The user can then accept and store the program site chosen in this way, using the key 1. He can then skip this program using the 2 key, store the program under a predetermined program site using the 3 key, and store the program under a different program site using the 4 key. The default program sites specified by the manufacturer, for example, in the way a VCR is generally programmed. This default specification can be read as follows: the location or site 1 of Program - ARD, the location of Program 2 - ZDF, the location of Program 3 - N3, etc. This default specification is used among other things even if the user started the program search by antenna using the key 2 in the first menu of Figure 3. This default specification means that the subsequent classification is no longer necessary. The user can now decide if he would like to have freely selectable programming, partially predetermined programming or the same programming of his satellite system. These predetermined programming specifications are very useful, depending on the components. Thus, for example in the case of a cheap satellite receiver, the programs are in some cases optionally stored, whereby the user is obtaining a better overview of the predetermined sites or program locations. If the user presses the key 4, illustrated in Figure 4, he will be shown a screen like that illustrated in Figure 5. The user is then asked to assign a program location number. He stores the information using the 1 key and ends this operation using the 0 key. If all the program locations have been assigned, either as a satellite program search or a program search by antenna, the user will be shows this, as illustrated in Figure 6. He can then leave this menu by pressing the 0 key, or the menu automatically turns off after a few seconds. Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 illustrate, by way of example only, a menu in which the user has to press the function keys of the remote control. It might also be conceivable for individual commands that these be contrasted with one another in color, and the user may use a cursor to go from one menu item to another, as an example, to cause this menu item to be executed by means of a key to enter (Enter).

Claims (10)

1. A method for using the program locations of a satellite receiver by means of a television receiver either VCR or TV connected to the satellite receiver, comprising the following steps: supplying a selection signal from the television receiver to the receiver satellite to select a program location of the satellite receiver, tune the satellite receiver to the location of the selected program, transfer a received signal over the location of the selected program from the satellite receiver to the television receiver, detect information that identifies the channel, by the television receiver, determine the channel of the signal transferred from the channel identification information, by the television receiver, store an information regarding the channel on the location of the selected program of the satellite receiver in the television receiver.

2. Method according to claim 1, further comprising: the selection of a channel by means of the television receiver, - determining the location of the satellite receiver program of the selected channel, from the stored information of the channel in the receiver of television, transfer a signal comprising the location of the satellite receiver program from the television receiver to the satellite receiver, and tune the satellite receiver to the channel of the program location.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the location of the program of the satellite receiver is assigned to the program location of the television receiver and corresponding information is stored in the television receiver.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein, for the selection of a program location of the television receiver, the satellite receiver is switched to the corresponding program location.

5. Method of compliance with any of the preceding claims, wherein the teletext information is updated in the case of a channel change recognized by a changed channel identification information.

6. Method of compliance with any of the preceding indications, wherein the television signal transferred from the satellite receiver to the television receiver comprises the information identifying the channel.

7. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the television receiver first supplies a signal to the satellite receiver to switch to the first program location, then after the storage of the channel information the television receiver supplies a signal to the satellite receiver to switch to the second location of the program, and so on.

8. Method according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein a program search is initiated at the satellite receiver after reception of the supplied signal from the television receiver.

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein program search is automatically initiated if no signal is received at the location of the first program.

10. Method of compliance with any of the preceding claims, wherein the television receiver is a video recorder.